Trunk-strap.



PATENTBD MAY 10, 1904.

R. J. NUNN.

TRUNK STRAP.

APPLIoAwIoN FILED Nov.11, 1903.

B0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

RICHARD J. NUNN, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersV Patent No. 759,305, dated May 10,1904. l

Application iiled November 11,1903. Serial No. 180,665. (No model.)

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. NUNN, a citizen ot the United States,residing in Savannah, in the county of Ohatham, in the State ot eorgia,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trunk-Straps, ot'which the Jfollowing is a specilication.

The improvement relates to the provisions for fastening and liberating'at will. It provides for tightening and releasing the strap to a iixedextent by a lever motion oi' one of two metal parts. One part is formedwith an eye at one end which is engag'ed with one end of the strap andwith a hook at the other end with which the other part can be engaged toserve as a pivot and be instantly released to allow the strap to beremoved from the trunk and to be reapplied again without disturbing theadjustment. It results from my invention that the effective length or'the strap may be increased or diminished by shifting the strap so as tochange the position of the bight in its engagement with one part, andthe adjustment can be retained without change for any period, the strapbeing removed and re-v applied to the trunk as many times as required inthe interval.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part oi' this specification.

Figure l is an edge view, and Fig. 2 a top View, showingV the device inuse on a trunk. Fig. 8 and the succeeding iigures are longitudinalsections on the line 3 3 in Fig'. 2, showing' the device in differentconditions. The strong lines in Fig. 3 show the parts separated, and thedotted lines correspondingly lettered show the parts engaged togetherwithout being' subjected. to any strain. Fig. I shows -the parts in the`act of tightening the strap, and Fig. 5 shows the same with the actioncompleted. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section oi a portion, showing amodiiication.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in all theiigures where they appeal'. Y

The principal parts may be made oi" various materials; but I will assumethat they are malleable cast-iron.

I will describe the fastener as equipped with a spring-lock, to thekeyhole of which easy access is aliorded when the fastener is in use.

The strap is marked ft, certain portions being designated bysupernumerals. One end fr' is :folded around a cross-bar in one end ofone ot the fastening parts, whichI will u term the catch, and riveted.The other end es or' the strap is folded around a cross- 1 bar din thenud-length ot' the other part, which .l will term the lever of thefastener;-

When the device is out oi' use, the strap may be adjusted in its embraceoiE the bar (.Z, so as to increase or reduce the length of the strap toadapt it to different-sized trunks.

The catch having the cross-bar L', which engages the strap, has also aiiattened crossbar 3. An extension-piece c is secured on the flattenedcross-bai' b3 and formed with a strong hook c. It has also a cross-bar bor oii'set, which serves in holding the lever in the closed condition,as will presently appear. The lever l constitutes the remainder of thefastener. It is equipped with a cross-bar IZ' at the 1nidlength, whichreceives the fold or bight at the strap. Another cross-bar d at one endis adapted to catch in the hook c and should be cylindrical, so as toturn easily in the hook. A cross-bar (Z3 of angular crosssection servesto sharply deflect the strap and insure its being nipped and held bythestrain when in the fastened condition. I have shown the lever ascarrying a spring-lock, of which d* is the back plate. The works may beof any ordinary or suitable construction. The keyhole e and the bolt eof this lock are shown. The bolt projects on the side of the lockfarthest from the pivotal cross-bar and is arranged to engage andrelease the cross-bar The level' Z may be extended any length re quiredbeyond the lock, accordingto the leverage required to give the necessarytension to the strap. I have shown it as extended only a little.

In the use of the invention the strap may have been previously lying onthe iioor extending across under the trunk with one end permanently butflexibly engaged with the cross-bar CZ and the other end forming a bightaround the cross-bar Z2. Its ends are picked up and the two fasteningparts Zrand CZ are brought together on the top of the trunk, and thecross-bar Z2 is engaged in the hook c. Then force is applied to the endZZ of the lever Z in the direction to turn it into the closed position,(shown in Fig. 5,) and on the lever Z being so urged a little fartherthan is shown in Fig. 4 the bolt e snaps under the cross-bar Z2, and thewhole will thereafter remain in the secured condition (shown in Fig. 5)for any period. "When it is desired to open the trunk, the proper keyoperated in the keyhole e withdraws the bolt e and sets the lever (Z atliberty. It will turn under the tension of the strap back again to theposition shown in Fig. I or farther. rIurning this part quite over intothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 so slackens the strap thatthe crossbar (Z2 is easily disengaged from the hook c, and theseparation is complete.

It will be seen that one adjustment of the biglit of the strap aroundthe cross-bar Z will serve for an indefinite period, allowing the strapto be secured and removed at will. There is no necessity for shiftingthe strap in its engagement with the cross-bar (Z after it has been onceadjusted for the trunk on which it is used until stretching or otherchange in the strap or enlargement of the trunk shall require it.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages of the invention. Ilie extensionpiece 0,carrying the hook c, may be made in one with the catch b. Fig. 6 showssuch modification. Instead of the fiat form of the cross-bar Z3 I canuse a bar of circular section, and on embracing it with a correspondingcircular loop of the part c the parts will be allowed to ieX to any'required extent on each other. Instead of rigid parts here I can use achain or anything flexible, but not eX- tensible. The connection of thestrap Z to the cross-bar CZ may be made unchangeable by stitching orotherwise, and the length of the strap may be adjusted by a buckle orother suitable device at any point not shown. I prefer the whole asshown.

I claim as my invention- 1. The catch Z) c having a cross-bar or eye b',adapted to engage the strap at one end.I and the engaging' cross-bar Z2near that end, and a hook 0 at the opposite end, in combination with acorresponding lever part Z having a pivotal cross-bar (Z2, adapted toengage and release said hook, a cross-bar Z adapted to engage a biglitof the strap and allow it to be shifted to adjust the effective length,and a locking-bolt e and suitable operating means, all arranged forjoint operation substantially as herein specified. A

2. A flexible strap Z engaged with the adjacent eiid of the catch Z; chavinga cross-bar or eye Z engaged with such strap at one end and thecross-bar Z22 near such end and a hook c at the opposite end, incombination with a corresponding lever part (Z having a pivotalcross-bar Z2 adapted to engage and release said hook, a cross-bar ZZadapted to engage a bight of the strap and allow it to be shifted toadjust the effective length and a lockingbolt e and suitable operatingmeans, all arranged foi` joint operation substantially as hereinspecified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD J. NUNN. Vitnesses:

THOMAS DREW STETsoN, M. F. BoYLE.

